Who is Ohad Pele
Following a wave of attacks, some venomous and filled with falsehoods, directed at Ohad Pele and his colleagues — mostly by people who do not know him at all — we reached out to individuals who actually know him, asking them to share their impressions based on their personal experience.
Within a week, more than sixty incredible character testimonials were gathered, and they continue to be collected.
Below is a selection of the testimonials. For those interested in reading further, here is a link to the Google Doc where all testimonials are compiled with no edits.
If you would like to add your own testimonial based on your personal experience with Ohad Pele, we would highly appreciate it. You can do so through this form.
“…I've only ever known Pele to speak honorably, without malice or ill will toward anyone, including his accusers. I've experienced him as extremely boundaried and honoring of boundaries, mine and others'. I've never seen him do anything to make me think he'd willingly hurt or extract anything from anyone without consent.
I personally feel safer with Pele around - I don't think he would ever perpetrate or enable an act of harm to come to me or anyone if he has any sense such harm is happening.”
Raven. USA.
״I have known Ohad for nearly a decade… I have experienced many facets of his character, and the most prominent is his aspiration to be a “mensch”—a true human being, in both the simple and the profound sense. I have witnessed his ability to listen to others, even when what is being said is not comfortable for him; the great importance he places on boundaries, and his consistency in upholding them. I have also seen the courage and honesty with which he engages with whatever life brings his way. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking to connect with him—as a business partner, a teacher, or a friend.״
Benyamin Artovski, Israel (Translated)
“…I witnessed him treat everyone sensitively with the same compassion and love, regardless of their background, religion, sex and ethnicity.
I’ve also witnessed him face tough times. I saw him deal with an attacks and accusations. He had the sincere intention to learn from mistakes with honesty and depth. I watched him walk the talk and grow through those challenges in the way he teaches people how to grow. It showed me the strength of his character.
On a personal level, I’ve reached out to Ohad during my own struggles, and he was there for me. He gave his time, presence, and sincere support. And he did that generously without expecting anything in return. I know he’s done the same for many others too…”
Mehmet Oguz Yaygin. clinical therapist specializing in trauma.Turkey
“I have known Ohad Ezrahi for over 30 years… Ohad is a pioneer in his field, and on many occasions has introduced new approaches that required courage, perseverance, and a willingness to go against the norm in order to establish these paths within society… Through our close acquaintance, I have often witnessed how, due to his work in such a complex and sensitive field—sexuality and love—Ohad has been subject to criticism, taken out of context, and described in ways that are not connected to the truth.
I wish to serve here as a witness on Ohad’s behalf and in support of his work in the world—to acknowledge him as a pioneer, and to say with full faith that his heart and his actions are aimed solely at bringing goodness into the world and making it a better place.
I love Ohad as a person, and I am grateful for the privilege of meeting him and collaborating with him.”
Shmuel Shaul, Israel (translated)
“What I can say about Ohad is that his heart is incredibly pure. There is a natural playfulness in him that feels both disarming and deeply safe. I have always trusted him completely, he has consistently honored my boundaries with clarity and respect, which allowed me to open and learn in profound ways… Working and learning with him has been a meaningful part of my path, and I feel grateful for the many ways he has supported my growth.”
Afke, the Netherlands
“I have known Ohad Pele for quite a long time, and I believe that even if he made mistakes here and there — as we all do — he is not a dangerous person who causes sexual harm, nor does he carry malicious intent.
I base this mainly on what he chose to do in the period following the accusations: he undertook a serious process of self-examination. He did deep personal work — with me, with a colleague of mine whom I trust deeply, and with himself.
For that reason I believe he can be trusted, and it is right to let him continue to contribute to the world — both as a friend and as a teacher.”
Ora Gavriely, Israel (translated)
“I met Pele 25 years ago as a person searching for answers… I witnessed the process in which he took upon himself a mission to help those who sought it, to liberate their Eros from ancient chains of guilt, shame, and suppression.
I, and many hundreds of other seekers, have been blessed to live with a healthier and more creative Eros thanks to his workshops. The ability to say "no" was the most important and practiced first step in every workshop Pele led…”
Dr. Avi Ronen, Israel (Translated)
“I have known Ohad for 15 years — as a friend, as a teacher, as a beloved.
I studied with him in many ways, primarily through personal inquiry and experience. And it was always fascinating and surprising to discover more and more about myself and my body. To open the heart and find out who I am. And I always felt comfortable and safe. Ohad was like home to me. It was simply wonderful to discover new directions, new worlds. A true mind-opener.
Ohad's path is a pioneer's path, and it takes enormous courage and freedom to bring this knowledge into the world in such an open way. And in my opinion, only a few can truly grasp the depth of what he brings.
For me, at any rate — it changed my life. And I will always be grateful for that.”
M.B Israel (Translated)
“Ohad has a way of teaching that feels both grounded and soulful. There’s a depth to how he speaks and holds space that doesn’t feel forced or performative, it feels real. And I think that’s one of his unique gifts.
What has stood out to me over time is his humanity. He doesn’t position himself as above or beyond, but rather as someone in the work, with the work. There’s a humility in that, and a willingness to stay curious, to listen, and to evolve.
I also experienced him as someone who genuinely respects people’s boundaries, which, in this field, feels essential.
Having had the opportunity to collaborate with him on an event that unfolded beautifully, I’ve seen not only his facilitation, but also his integrity in action. It deepened my respect for him and for what he brings to the community.”
Simona Ferrari, South Africa
“I am grateful for the way that my interactions with Pele have helped me evolve beyond what I imagined was possible.
Pele is one of the most amazing teachers I have come across. He talks about deep and difficult topics, so I understand how people can be triggered by him… However, if you spend time with him, you will know he respects people in ways I wish more of us did.”
Melanie, Germany
“…Furthermore, Ohad always encouraged everyone around him toward full self-sovereignty. He encouraged us to discover and follow our own truth, our own heart. He encouraged us to place question marks on everything dictated by law or by those in authority — including his own words. This is something I always valued deeply in him: the respect Ohad has for the path each person chooses to walk. Ohad taught and encouraged all of us to expand our inner freedom, to liberate ourselves from patterns, from parents, from teachers, from laws and from anything that is an external authority — including, as mentioned, his own so-called ‘authority.’
Therefore, even today, after more than 25 years of acquaintance, I stand beside Ohad Pele with joy and with love — as a witness to his character and his clean hands, and with deep gratitude for everything I have learned with him and through him.”
Keshet Wild, programmer and artist of life, Israel (Translated)
“…I have no words to thank this man for so many gifts — both spiritual and material — that I received from him. Throughout all the years of our acquaintance, he was and remains a reliable, honest, direct, peace-seeking, loving, and exceptionally generous person. The deepest teaching I received about the nobility of a woman came from him …
As a direct continuation of his open and transparent character, he invited the women who claimed to have been hurt by him to speak their words to him, and sought repair as openly and honestly as possible — and for this, I have great admiration for him.”
Daria Peleg, Israel (Translated)
“…He has been there for me during some of the hardest times in my life, including a time of total breakdown when he came with his son and partner and lived with me for three weeks to look after me. I know him very well, and it is heartbreaking to see how poorly he is treated by people that do not know him. He is a good man, a man of integrity to god, one who keeps their word, and who would never want someone to do anything that they didn't themselves want to do.”
Jamie Zigelbaum, BS Tufts, MS MIT, USA
“As someone who grew up in a religious home and left that world at age 30 after a turbulent period, I developed a deep aversion to rabbis and "gurus." So when I first met Ohad Pele at an ISTA seminar (L1) in March 2018, my initial reaction was one of recoil.
But as the seminar progressed, I witnessed how Ohad and the team supported each participant in creating sovereignty, personal independence and empowerment. I saw an uncompromising process of unraveling past conditioning that holds us back from growing — it was at times painful, but today I understand how vital that process was for me. On a personal level, Ohad helped me process a traumatic experience from a place that allowed me, for the first time, to truly begin releasing it.”
Eyal Oved, practitioner of Chinese medicine, researcher of healing processes — body, mind, consciousness. Israel. (Translated)
“Pele is a true Mensch. One of the very few I've ever met.
I trust him with my heart, my money, and with all the women in my life.
Pele is a man of God by the highest definition of this word. I have been inspired by him over the years of friendship, and during the many months we lived together in my house, sharing everything with one another.
Few people have shown up for me like Pele. With consistency, integrity, and an open heart overflowing with both care and wisdom.
As he trailblazes to new avenues of human exploration, I have known his beautiful heart to always learn and grow. No mistake, no reflection, no pain nor heartbreak goes to waste inside his ever-expanding being.
Pele is a Rabbi of Sacred Living. He serves a function lost to the modern, secular world. I envy the community that he ends up putting roots in.
I am proud to call him my friend. With tears flowing as I write this, I am wishing for all people to have someone like Pele in their lives.”
Dor Conforty. California, USA
“…Pele has shown up as a facilitator, always with lots of integrity, Not just respecting everyone's boundaries and needs but always making sure people know how to take care of their own boundaries in the best way. I have learned from Pele how to deal with difficulties showing up in a community, how to look at situations from different angles, and to drop my prejudice and judgment. I have learned to take more responsibility for my own life, to love those parts of myself that are not always easy to love, and to see my path as a creation rather than something that is happening to me.
I have seen Pele in many roles: as a father, as a partner, as a lover, as a friend and as a facilitator. And in all of them I have always felt deep care, love, integrity, and humanity And I feel very happy and proud to walk this journey of life knowing a man like him.”
Maria Garzon, Austria
“…Over the years Ohad has opened himself to receiving feedback — publicly and personally — and has been willing to hear it, receive it, and reflect accordingly. I have witnessed the sincere processes of reflection he underwent and the real changes that emerged from them.
I trust the integrity of his heart, his intention, and his professionalism. I trust him as a teacher, as a facilitator, and as a holder of spaces for deep and transformative developmental processes.”
Sasha Balabin — workshop facilitator, Israel. (translated)
“I've known Ohad Pele for more than a decade. We've been good friends. We've taught together. prayed together, loved and fought each other. We were both deeply involved in Ista and got to know each other’s light and dark really well. I have tremendous respect for him, not only as a being of love, but a being of wisdom. His love extends to a deep care of people's souls, helping them become wiser and more liberated…
I trust Ohad, because I know he is a being dedicated to love, who given time and space, will continue to deepen that relationship even and especially when it means dismantling his own identity…
When I consider the lasting contribution he has made to literally thousands of souls on their life path I celebrate his courage in continuing to show up for love and learning in a field where there is much controversy and shadow.“
Bruce Lyon, New Zealand
To read all testimonials collected in their full length visit here.
If you would like to add your own testimonial based on your personal experience with Ohad Pele, we would highly appreciate it. You can do so through this form.